All engine parts will be subjected to a large cooling airflow not just the pots, and it isn't as if the cylinders actually get cold, with the prop windmilling the pistons are stil compessing the air, combustion is still going on so heat is still being produced. The airflow through out the cowling must be fairly even, or you would be burning the rear cylinders all the time.
Genghis, do you have any knowledge or data to back up either side.
LowNSlow, the meatbombing brigade do push the a/c fairly hard, Do the engines have shorter lives? If so is that due to the fact they spend their lives at high power settings, or is there some truth to 'shock' cooling theory.
The engine temp dropoff rates are very high after a shut down, especially in the out lying cylinders away from the crankcase. I have never seen an aircraft with a split cases due to heating, but quite a few due to vibration, specifically out of balance alternators! That is an expensive problem!